RADIOTHERAPY (RADIATION THERAPY)

It Is Applied to the Breast Area and Under the Armpit to Kill Any Cancer Cells That May Remain After Surgery and to Prevent Their Recurrence.

Almost all patients diagnosed with breast cancer who have undergone conservative surgery, where only the tumor is removed and the remaining breast tissue is left untreated, require radiotherapy after the operation. Radiotherapy is preferably initiated after chemotherapy in patients requiring chemotherapy, and preferably at least three weeks after surgery in patients requiring no additional systemic treatment or requiring hormone therapy alone. Patients who apply to the radiotherapy department for breast radiotherapy first undergo a computerized tomography scan with 2-5 mm intervals for planning purposes. After determining the breast to be irradiated, the lymphatic regions where necessary, and healthy organs such as the heart, main vessels, lungs, and the contralateral breast, the plan is made to administer the necessary dose to the desired areas of risk while sparing healthy organs. Once the plan is approved, the patient begins radiotherapy for a duration of 5 to 7 weeks, determined by the radiation oncologist, depending on the severity of the disease. In special cases, short-term treatment, called hypofractionation, is used. This treatment also lasts three weeks. With external beam radiation, the patient receives radiotherapy once a day, every day of the week. Treatment is interrupted on weekends.